Ironing-board



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

S. M. BROWN.

IRONING BOARD.

Patented Sept. 25, 1888.

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(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

S. M. BROWN.

IRONING BOARD.

Patented Sept. 25, 1888.

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UNITED STATES FATENT SILAS M. BROWN, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ERONING BOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 389,920, dated September 25, 1888.

Application filed February 2, 1888. Serial No. 262,759. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SILAS M. BROWN, a citiaen of the United States, residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ironing-Boards, of which the followingis a specification.

In the accompanying drawings, which form 'a part of this application, and in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved ironingtable and apparatus. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 is a similar view with the legsl'olded. Fig. 4 is an end view of the tablein thecondition shown at Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the table-top shown at Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the same being somewhat enlarged from any of said figures and the section being taken at any point across the width of the table-top other than through the horn, the purpose of this figure being simply to show the folding leaves of the table. Fig. 6 is a view of the leg-locking device. Fig. 7 is a view of the cord-stretcher, and Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

In said drawings, A represents the tabletop made with rounded corners a and the usual skirt-horn, A. The edge of this table-top or ironing-board is cut with a groove, B, to receive a flexible band, which may consist of a wire or cord, 0, by means of which the ironing-blanket or garment to be ironed may be secured to the board.

I sometimes make theironing-board hinged with leaves to fold over, as indicated in cross section at Fig. 5. \Vhere there is a skirt horn on the ironing-board, as shown in the drawings, which necessarily gives to the board an indented or recurved outline,or even where no skirt horn is applied, but where the hinged kind of top is used either with or without the skirt-horn, some provision is needed for keeping the flexible band in place in the groove at the recurved portion of the edge of the board, or at the break made by the hinged leaves, or at both. This means for holding the cord in place may consist of a staple or staples, a which may be of the ordinary U or staple shape and serve to hold the cord in the groove by being driven into the edge of the table at the desired point or points to straddle the groove and the flexible band contained therein. In case these staples are used the blanket may be slit or perforated at the points where the staples are applied, in order that the latter may project through the blanket and take the flexible band upon the outside. At some point on the edge of the table, and preferably at the point shown in the drawings, is located the tightening device. (Separately shown at Fig. 7.) This tightening device consists of a basestrip, D, furnished with one or more projections,d,adapted to enter the groove in the edge of the board for the purpose of retaining the base-strip in position. To this basestri p is pivoted the arm D, to which one end of the flexible band 0 is attached. The other end of the flexible band, after passing around the edge of the ironing-board,is secured to the base plate or strip D. The pivot of arm D is raised sufflcie'ntly from the surface of the base-plate so that when the arm is pressed down upon the plate, tightening the flexible band as much as possible, the line of the band will be carried past the pivot of the arm, so that the strain of the band will tend to pull the arm downward, looking it. This constitutes asimple locking and straining device for the flexible band and one easily and quickly operated. Ihave shown one of these locking devices applied to the bosom-board and one to the ironing board or table.

lVhere the table and ironing-board are made with hinged leaves to fold upward over the table-top, as shown at Fig. 5, the usual turning supports, E, are applied to support the leaves when extended. After the blanket is applied to the board, and while the flexible band is still loose, the blanket may be drawn on all sides down over the edge of the board smoothly, stretching it to place by the hand;

on of any cloth or garment as well as the put ting on of the ironing-blanket. The rounded corners of the board or rounded contour per Inits the band to draw evenly and bring an equal strain upon the blanket, cloth, or garment.

The folding legs of my improved apparatus are designed to combine with the desired compactness, when folded, a perfect support for the projecting skirt-horn and great rigidity of bracing in all directions and against all strains which maybe applied to the top of the table. To one end of the table or board 11 affix a strong pivot-piece, F, which furnishes the pivotal connection G. This pivot G constitutes the only point of attachment of the legs to the table. The legs and braces,forming together a system of parallel bars pivotally joined to gether at four points and comprising two upright and two diagonal parts, are contrived to swing altogether upon the single center G. The uprights H and II each itself consists of a pair of bars united at the bottom by a basepiecc, J, and braced by diagonal braces J, as will be clearly seen at Fig. 4. The upper end of the upright H is pivoted to the common center, G, to which center is also pivoted the diagonal brace K, which extends diagonally to the floor or ground at a point under the projecting skirt-horn, as at K. The upright H is pivoted to this diagonal brace or strut K at the pivot G, and theupper end of upright H- is pivoted by the pivot G to the reverse diagonal brace L, which extends diagonally to upright II, to which it is pivoted by the pivot G. The diagonal braces K and L may be in duplicate, one at each side of the structure; or they may be single, the duplicate form being the preferable one. A turn-lock, M, Fig. (3, pivoted to the bottom of the table and having the notch m,suitcd to engage the cross bar or rod between the pair of bars constituting upright ][,and which rod constitutes the pivot G, serves to lock the legs in the position shown in the full lines in Fig. 2, the operation being simply to swing the lock around until the notch engages the pivot-rod. hen it is desired to fold the table up to be put away or for the purpose of transportation, the turn-lock M being released and turned out of the way, the whole system of legs and braces is free to be swung upon the pivot G, folding together at the same time upon the pivots G G G", as indicatedin dotted lines in Fig. 2, and assuming, finally, the position shown in Fig. 3.

By reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the folding is accomplished by moving the pivot G away from the pivot G. The basepieces J J, which are exactly alike in length and every other particular, are not required in this folding operation, either one of them, to pass within or clear the diagonal braces. These two base-pieces are shown in Fig. 3, folded up against the diagonal braces side by side. This system of folding legs and braces, as will be seen, is contrived not only to support the projecting skirt-horn by the extended foot K, but also to furnish a very rigid support for the table in all directions, while at the same ti meit may be folded into as compact a form as the thickness of the legs and braces will permit.

I claim 1. In an ironing apparatus, the ironingboard grooved at its edges to receive a flexible band, as a cord or wire, and in combination with such band and a selflocking straining device secured to the edge of" the board for straining the flexible band, said straining device consisting of a base-piece and pivoted levcr,to each of which the cord is attached, the lever being capable of carrying the band past its pivot to lock the same, substantially as specified.

2. The con1bination,with the board or table, of two sets of upright legs, one pivoted to the board or table, and the diagonal braces H L, the brace K being pivoted to the board or ta ble at G and to the uprights H at G, and the brace L being pivoted to the uprights H at G, and the uprights II. at G, substantially as specified.

SILAS M. BRO WN.

\Vitnesses:

'H. M. TtIUNDAY,

Enw. S. Evamrs. 

